Suspended ceiling structure



Feb. 1967 D. E. MOCK ETAL 3,304,684

SUSPENDED CEILING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 26, 1963 r nlw w w" HI w ""H 74 w "H. Wfi-W HI WWI AIM n Mil f 30 F @4 24 22 w 30 2@ I6.%. M I Hraz 34 Ti 36 MM 3a 55 lNVE/VTORS DONALD 5 Mock, JOSEPH BANNER, ARTHUR BANNER Eon/A20 0. OER/AN Arraewsr United States Patent 3,304,684 SUSPENDED CEILING STRUCTURE Donald E. Mock, Covina, .loseph Banner, Whittier, and

Arthur Banner, Pico Rivera, Calif., assignors to Anjac Plastics, Inc., El Monte, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,566

1 Claim. (Cl. 52665) This invention is directed to a ceiling structure for suspended ceilings.

Suspended ceiling structures in the past have required considerable mechanical work to provide the proper hanging of the ceiling from the overhead structure to keep it uniform, square and level. Cutting and fitting, together with the typing of wires and securement of joints has presented a great deal of difiioulty in prior structures, with the attendant consumption of labor. The parts supplied with prior systems have had to be out and fitted for they were not supplied in modular form. Furthermore these prior structures were built of relatively heavy expensive material which was difiicult to work into the units necessary for suspended ceiling, and it was difficult to install these units in place.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a suspended ceiling structure of modular construction which easily fits together in the proper relationship so that cutting and measuring is eliminated during the installation thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ceiling structure which readily snaps together, without the use of tools.

It is another object of this invention to provide a suspended ceiling structure primarily of extruded polymer composition material to provide such a structure which is light, economical, and easy to install and maintain.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claim and the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a joint between several members of the ceiling structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of one of the cross Ts used in this ceiling structure;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of one of the longitudinal Ts used in the ceiling structure of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a supporting strap used in this ceiling structure;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a spring clip used in this ceiling structure.

As an aid to understanding this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it relates to a suspended ceiling structure. In this structure inverted T shaped members are used to support inserted ceiling tile elements by gravity. The members extend between the tiles and are supported from the overhead structure. The members comprise two distinct types. The so called longitudinal Ts are lengths which are secured together by the means of spring tie clips to establish longitudinal lengths entirely crossing the area to be covered with ceiling. The longitudinal Ts are hung from the overhead by tabs which engage an arrow head on the top of the inverted Ts. Uniformly spaced locking slots are formed in the longitudinal Ts, and cross Ts are inserted therein.

The ends of the cross Ts are formed in such a manner that they may be inserted in the locking slots in pairs, one from each side, and securely held therein. When locked in this position the heads of the Ts, facing downward, are even with the heads of the longitudinal TS to provide a neat appearance. Furthermore, the cross Ts are 'ice of such configuration that when two of them are inserted in opposite sides of the locking slot, and are locked therein, the heads of the cross Ts are in longitudinal alignment for neat appearance. This is accomplished by having the center of the head of the cross T in line with one side of the vertical web of the cross T. By this structure a series of Ts are suspended from the overhead, and a plurality of ceiling tiles are supported thereby to form a complete suspended ceiling structure.

The invention will be understood in more detail by reference to the drawings which are described in detail in the following portion of this specification. In FIG. 1 an assembly of the suspended ceiling structure of this invention is generally indicated at 10. The assembly shown therein describes a portion of an entire suspended ceiling structure by illustrating one of the intersections between the supporting Ts. The Ts of this invention fall into two classes. The longitudinal Ts 12 are of unitary structure from one end of the room to the other, or may be pieced together in butt to butt relationship to provide a single long T. Cross Ts 14 are of modular length and extend between two parallel longitudinal Ts 12 to provide the proper spacing therebetween and to establish support in modular length and width for ceiling tile. The tile are of square or rectangular construction and a sufficient plurality of longitudinal Ts 12 and cross Ts 14 is established across a ceiling of a room to provide proper support along all four edges of each of these ceiling tile. Thus an assembly of longitudinal Ts and cross Ts makes up a cross network of ceiling supporting structure to support the ceiling tile over the entire ceiling structure. Alternatively to tiles in some of the rectangular areas defined by these Ts, it is possible to install an egg crate or other light dilfusing system therein, backed up by lights independently supported from the overhead. Furthermore it is possible to position air transmittal equipment such as air inlets or air outlets in place of certain specific tile in the ceiling.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, the longitudinal T is shown at 12. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the name T is derived from the configuration of the part which is in the shape of an inverted T. The T 12 comprises head 16 and upright center web 18. center web 18 is arrow head 20 on the edge of the center W6b opposite head 16. Surface 22 of head 16 is visible in the room, so it should be appropriately finished to suit the decor. It may be either finished in smooth fashion, or may have longitudinal striations therealong. Surfaces 24 are support surfaces, for it is here that the ceiling tile rest.

It can be seen that longitudinal T 12 is particularly adapted for extrusion for it has a regular cross sect-ion. Various materials can be extruded into the longitudinal T12, and such materials may be metallic, or are preferably of polymer composition material.

As T 12 is extruded, it is cut into suitable lengths for handling. The total length of any single piece of T 12 may either be a singular modular length corresponding to the side dimension of the ceiling tile, or may be a multiple of such length. Multiples of such length are preferable to reduce handling and manpower. In order to permit endwise butt attachment of a plurality of such Ts as T 12, each end of T 12 is cut off square as at end 26 and 23 of FIG. 3. These ends are at right angles to both the plane of surface 22 and to the center web 18. Thus two such ends may be butted together so that the point in surface 22 is barely perceptible. In order to maintain such ends in butt engagement, each T 12 is provided adjacent each end with suitable engagement holes such as engagement hole 30 closer to head 16 and engagement hole 32 closer to arrow head 20. These engagement holes are spaced a fixed distance from the ends Integrally formed with the 26 and 28 and spring clip 34 is particularly designed to engage through two of the engagement holes 32, and another of such spring clip 34 through another pair of engagement holes 30. Each of the spring clips 34 has hook ends 36 and outwardly bent terminations 38 to aid in the insertion of spring clips 34 through their engagement holes. By this means a plurality of longitudinal Ts 12 are maintained in rigid and longitudinal alignment for application preferably below the overhead of a room at right angles to the joists or rafters in the overhead thereof.

As is seen in FIGS. 2 and cross Ts 14 are of similar configuration. They are of inverted T shape configuration having head 40 and center web 42. Cross T 14 is also supplied with an arrow head 44 at the edge of center web 42 opposite head 40. Head 40 has surface 46 which is visible from the room and surfaces 48 upon which the tile rest. One significant difference between the cross sections of FIGS. 5 and 6 is that the center line of head 40 and surface 46 is at the side 50 of center web 42, in the structure of FIG. 5, while in the structure of FIG. 6 the center line of head 16 and surface 22 is in the center of web 18. The reason for this difference in construction will be more apparent when the manner of connection of the cross Ts to longitudinal Ts is described herebelow.

As seen in FIG. 2 the ends of cross Ts 14 are cut with stops 52 which are adapted to engage upon the sides of center web 18, when they are assembled thereto. Extending beyond stops 52 are tongues 54. Tongues 54 have a barb 56 stamped therefrom so that the distance from the projecting end 58 to the stops 52 is substantially equivalent to the thickness of center web 18. Between tongues 58 and stops 52 are recesses 60 of suitable dimension to permit acceptance of spring clips 34 without engagement. Furthermore, head 40 is cut back from the stop and terminates at end 62 a distance equal to the distance between one side of center web 18 and the edge of head 16.

Cut through center web 18 are slots 64 of such dimension as to accept two of the tongues 54 in side by side relationship, one from each side. Thus slot 64 has a height a little greater than the height of tongue 54 and a width a little greater than the thickness of two of the tongues 54. Barbs 56 are stamped out in the direction away from side 50 so that when tongues 54 are inserted through slot 64 from opposite sides, and the barbs are arranged in such a direction as to move away from the adjacent tongue 54 the two sides 50 of the two cross Ts 14 lie against each other. Since the heads 40 have their center line at side 50, the heads 40 line up to provide a proper appearance.

Slots 64 are accurately located in modular length along the length of longitudinal Ts 12 so that cross Ts 14 are accurately spaced. Furthermore the distance between stops 52 from end to end of cross T s 14 is equal to one module so that the longitudinal Ts 12 are maintained in proper spacing. Half slots 66 are cut into the ends 26 and 28 of longitudinal Ts 12 so that when a plurality of such Ts 12 are secrued together, slots 66, in pairs on opposite ends of the longitudinal Ts 12 form slots equivalent to slot 64 so that the cross Ts may be inserted therein. That type of joint is shown in FIG. 1.

It can be seen that a rectangular grid of Ts may be suspended for the support of ceiling tile on the inner surfaces of the heads of the Ts. In order to suspend this structure from an overhead, the arrow heads 20 and 44 are formed as an integral part of the extruded cross section. As is seen in FIG. 4, tab 68 is especially adapted to grasp the arrow heads 20 and 44, and for this purpose t is provided with arrow head shaped slot 70. Tab 68 is of flat stock and may be either metallic or polymer composition material stamped to the configuration shown.

After all longitudinal and cross Ts are installed, the frame work for the suspended ceiling SEI AQW Q is complete. Thereupon tile is inserted through the rectangular openings defined by the Ts at an angle and is permitted to rest on surfaces 24 and 48 so that the ceiling installation is completed. An alternative construction of tab 68 is to have its configuration as shown in FIG. 4 stamped on one flange of an extruded right angle section for convenience of securement to overhead structure running either parallel to or at right angles to the direction of longitudinal Ts 12. In order to provide additional stability it may be desirable to install additional tabs 68 on various cross Ts 14. This is done after the cross Ts 14 are installed in place when the tabs 68 are snapped thereon and secured to an adjacent overhead member. Sufiicient flexibility of the material of the tab 68 permits insertion of the slot 70 over the arrow head 20 or 44 for convenient application of tab 68 and rigid holding on the arrow head. Tab 68 is provided with nailing slot 72 so that it may be nailed on rafters and adjusted vertically before the nail is finally driven home. The stock of tab 68 is preferably sufficiently thin to permit stapling the tab to the rafters or to the ceiling joists.

The installation of the suspended ceiling structure of this invention can be accomplished in a plurality of different ways. The most convenient requires the following steps. The overhead should be marked by measuring and chalk lining at right angles to the direction of the rafters in equal increments equal to the length established by cross Ts 14 so that the positioning of the longitudinal Ts 12 is established. In accordance with usual practice, the longitudinal Ts are arranged to leave at least half the along each longitudinal edge. Thereafter one cross line at right angles to these first lines is established to determine the center line of one of the cross Ts 12. This line is to establish the position of the end joints such as at end 26 of the longitudinal Ts 12, and this line is positioned for arrangement of the tiles at the end walls.

Thereupon the ceiling height is determined and a line is struck along each wall at this height. Wall angles of extruded polymer composition material are secured along the walls at this height so the ends of the Ts can rest thereupon. A plurality of longitudinal Ts 12 are then assembled in accordance with the total length at right angles to the joists. Such assembly is made by butt jointing ends 26 and 28 with other longitudinal Ts 12, and the application of spring clips 34 to maintain them in their butt joint condition. The assembled lengths of longitudinal Ts are cut to a total length about one inch short of room length to allow for expansion. Thereupon a plurality of tabs 68 is installed on each of the longitudinal Ts 12, and the Ts 12 are installed along the previously marked lines on the overhead. When they are installed they are set in the proper longitudinal position so that one of the joints between the ends of several of the longitudinal Ts 12 is in line with the previously marked cross line. Level of the longitudinal Te 12 between the wall angles is established by an optical level, a bubble level, a line pulled tight across the room at the appropriate level or by any other convenient means. Slot 72 is of such dimension as to frictionally fit a standard nail. Tabs 68 may be adjusted up and down on such nails to aid in leveling the ceiling before the nails are driven home.

An alternative supporting system is provided by tape locks 74. Tape locks 74 are formed by punching a tab from webs 18 and 42 in such a manner that they may be pressed back in place. When the overhead is higher than can be reached by tabs 68 as under the roof rafters of a pitched roof, glass fiber tapes are secured to the rafters so they hang down to the height of the ceiling. Individual tapes are passed through tape locks 74 and when ceiling height is established the tape locks are pressed into the plane of the web. When final adjustment is reached the tape is stapled to itself for final securement.

After two of the longitudinal TS 112 are installed in place, installation of the cross TS 114 may begin, or such installation may wait until all of the longitudinal Ts 12 are in place. The latter method is preferred. Accordingly, after all the longitudinal Ts 12 are properly positioned the installation of cross Ts 14 is started. It can be seen that there is a slight degree of flexibility in the longitudinal T s before the cross Ts are in place so that if an installation starts at one side of the room and the cross Ts are installed between the adjacent longitudinal Ts at one side, the longitudinal Ts 12 can be deflected sufiiciently to permit the installation of the cross Ts. After one row of cross TS is installed, the installation of the next row between the next pair of longitudinal Ts is begun. Care is made during this installation of the second row to have the sides 50 of the cross T s, entering from opposite sides through slot 64, to be adjacent to each other so that surfaces 46 properly line up. Installation of cross Ts 14 is accomplished on a row by row basis with the side 50 in each row facing oppositely to the side 50 and the adjacent rows. By this means proper latching of tongues 54 with barbs 56 makes a rigid installation.

It can be clearly seen from the a-bove description that this invention is capable of numerous modifications and embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty and within the scope of the routine engineer. Accordingly the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claim.

We claim:

A suspended ceiling structure adapted to be secured to the overhead of a room to form a ceiling in said room, said suspended ceiling structure including longitudinal and cross members adapted to retain ceiling tile to form the ceiling, said longitudinal and cross members having a cross sectional configuration of an inverted T, said T having a head and an upright center web, said longitudinal and cross members having ends, engagement holes in said center web of said longitudinal T members adjacent the ends thereof, said longitudinal T members adapted to be associated in end to end relationship, securing means secured in said engagement holes in said center web to retain said longitudinal T members in end to end relationship so that said longitudinal T members can be assembled to the length required in the suspended ceiling structure, slots in said center web of said longitudinal T members at the end to end engagement thereof, said center web of said cross T members having a side, tongues formed on the ends of said cross T members, barbs formed on said tongues opposite said side, said tongues being adapted to be engaged in said slots and said barbs being adapted to be engaged on said center web of said longitudinal T member to secure said cross T members to said longitudinal T members, said head of said cross T members being symmetrical with respect to said side so that when said tongues of two of said cross T members are engaged in said slot in side to side relationship, said heads of said cross Ts are colinear with each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,895,180 7/1959 Byssing 52-484 X 2,942,704 6/1960 Stubbs 52-484 X 3,035,672 5/1962 Tuten et al 52-484 X 3,084,401 4/1963 Findlay 287-18936 X 3,089,570 5/1963 ONeil 287-18936 3,096,862 7/1963 Purdy 52-664 3,221,846 12/1965 Brown et a1. 287-18936 FOREIGN PATENTS 302,215 12/1917 Germany.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner. 

